Manager, Event Operations

National Geographic; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 87,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

National Geographic Society, based in Washington, DC, seeks a Manager, Event Operations to oversee on-site delivery for the Museum of Exploration and the National Geographic campus. The role leads event execution, drives budget discipline, and optimizes venue logistics across multiple venues.

The position requires 5+ years in museum or high-volume event operations, strong leadership, and stakeholder communication. Base Camp operations, Safety compliance, and partner coordination are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred with 5+ years leading event operations in large venues or museums.
• Experience supervising teams or vendors in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
• Proven ability to develop SOPs, manage budgets, and coordinate cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end event operations for a multi-million-dollar annual portfolio of internal and external events.
• Manage vendor relationships, SLAs, and contracts for catering, A/V, and production services.
• Serve as on-site point of contact for clients and internal teams to ensure smooth operations and guest satisfaction.
• Lead cross-departmental operations meetings to align site logistics and resource allocation.

Skills

Event operations leadership

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Problem-solving under pressure

Education

Bachelor’s Degree Preferred

Tools

Infor

Monday.com

EMS

Job description

How You’ll Contribute

The Campus and Experiences division creates and supports inspirational experiences for live audiences and delivers excellent service and operations at National Geographic Society facilities. The division is responsible for our Base Camp headquarters, including all aspects of the Museum of Exploration. This division also produces and generates revenue through National Geographic Live, Speakers Bureau and National Geographic’s Traveling Exhibitions programs. The Manager, Event Operations oversees daily event operations as part of the Hospitality and Retail department for the Museum of Exploration. This role provides strategic leadership and operational management for all internal and external events hosted at the Museum of Exploration and across the National Geographic campus. Reporting to the Senior Manager, this role leads event delivery, manages operational budgets, optimizes venue logistics, and drives team performance to elevate National Geographic’s brand standards and guest satisfaction.

Your Impact

Your Impact Responsibilities Include:

Event Management & Execution (45%)

• Develop, implement, and refine operational SOPs to optimize efficiency and event quality. Oversee end-to-end operational strategy for a multi-million-dollar annual portfolio of high-profile internal and external events.
• Manage relationships, SLA compliance, and contract terms for third-party catering, A/V, and production vendors.
• Serve as the primary on-site point of contact for clients and internal teams during events to ensure smooth operations and guest satisfaction.
• Conduct pre-event walk-throughs to address questions and collect operational details from vendors, internal teams, and clients.
• Compile and distribute post-event nightly reports to key internal stakeholders.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for event execution, guest satisfaction, and vendor performance.

Coordination & Collaboration (30%)

• Lead cross-departmental operations syncs with A/V, facilities, catering, and visitor service leaders to align site logistics, optimize resource allocation, and proactively resolve operational bottlenecks for all upcoming campus events.
• Optimize the balance between museum revenue targets and operational capacity through joint planning and decision-making across Campus and Experiences teams.
• Lead, schedule, and direct cross-functional event staff and third-party contractors, fostering a culture of accountability and high service standards.

Operational Guidance (15%)

• Oversee and command day-of execution across internal service partners (A/V, Visitor Experience, Janitorial, Security) and external contractors to ensure strict adherence to event timelines, brand standards, and safety protocols.
• Analyze post-event operational data and operational bottlenecks to design, document, and implement enhanced Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that elevate venue standards and efficiency.

Safety & Compliance (5%)

• Ensure compliance with accessibility guidelines, building regulations, and safety protocols during all event planning and execution phases.

Systems & Technology (5%)

• Leverage event management systems (Infor, Monday.com) to drive data-informed decisions, improve scheduling workflows, and generate operational analytics.

What You’ll Bring

Educational Background

• Bachelor’s Degree Preferred

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

• 5+ years event operations leadership, with 2+ years directly supervising teams or vendors in a museum, high-volume venue, or hospitality environment.

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and align multidisciplinary teams (A/V, facilities, catering, safety) and external vendors around shared operational goals.
• Proven skill in developing, documenting, and enforcing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline event setup, execution, and teardown.
• Experience managing vendor performance, enforcing SLAs, negotiating event scope, and ensuring strict compliance with vendor contracts and COIs.
• Strong decision-making skills under pressure, with a track record of resolving real-time operational issues and managing floor risks during high-stakes live events.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the confidence to interface effectively with high-profile clients, internal executives, and external partners.
• Ability and willingness to work non-standard, variable hours including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules.
• Ability to stand, walk, and navigate a large campus footprint for extended periods (8-12+ hours during major production days) and routinely lift/move equipment up to 50 lbs. as required for event execution.
• Keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workplace tools.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated leadership skills with experience coaching, evaluating, and managing staff or contract teams.
• Understanding of labor optimization, event budgeting, equipment allocation, and venue capacity management.
• Proficiency in enterprise event scheduling and operations management software (e.g., Infor, Monday.com, EMS, or similar platforms).
• Knowledge of local venue safety regulations, crowd management protocols, fire codes, and ADA compliance standards.

Supervision

No direct reports.

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations. The salary range for this position is $87,400.00 - $92,000.00. In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31 (May not apply to all roles that are required to work during high volume seasons or essential workers. Please check with the hiring manager for confirmation.); paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation On-Site Flex

Staff members who must be physically present at Base Camp to do the vast majority of their work supporting overall building and museum operations. On-Site Flex staff hours are determined in consultation with supervisors, and are responsive to the needs of the MOE and other building operations, often including nontraditional (M-F, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) work hours. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Who We Are

The National Geographic Society uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Our mission is only complete when our staff, explorers, educators, youth and partners are seen, valued, and heard. We embrace each person’s identity, experiences, and abilities, and we commit to cultivating an environment where everyone benefits from opportunity, mutual respect and a sense of belonging. National Geographic's headquarters is located in the heart of Washington, D.C. We offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental benefits, generous vacation and parental leave time, a 401(k) plan, flexible work options, and career development.